UH Architecture Program Earns Mayor's Proud Partner Award

Summer
time is work time for the University of Houston’s Graduate Design/Build Studio
(UH GDBS). Each year, the studio’s students brave Houston’s heat to help
enhance the city’s landscape.

By
designing and constructing useful community amenities, UH GDBS has helped local
schools, parks, and nonprofit organizations. This year was no different as the
studio produced a solar-powered outdoor classroom/butterfly pavilion for
Alief’s community garden.

Their
hard work received a “green” thumbs up from the community and soon will be
presented with the Mayor’s Proud Partner Award by Keep Houston Beautiful. The
award honors projects that
enhance and beautify the city. UH architecture professor Patrick Peters and
GDBS students will accept the award during the 28th annual Mayor’s
Proud Partners Awards luncheon at noon; Oct. 29 at the Houston Hilton Post Oak
Hotel.

This
steel, shade structure will be welcomed to the community Nov. 10 during a
ribbon-cutting event. With solar-powered ceiling fans, the pavilion will
provide community members with a place to cool off, as well as a perfect space
for educational demonstrations on planting, cooking, vegetables and other
topics.

The
garden and classroom site are located across the street from Youngblood
Intermediate School (at Beechnut Street and Dairy View Lane) on property owned
by Alief Independent School District. Once completed, the school can use the
classroom for outdoor activities.

Houston’s
SPARK School Park Program funded the project with support from Alief
Independent School District, Alief International District and Coca-Cola. Other
collaborators include architect Christof Spieler and Tolunay-Wong Engineers
Inc.

Another
UH project received an honorable mention from Keep Houston Beautiful. A
solar-powered outdoor demonstration kitchen that was designed by UH
architecture and graphic communication students was recognized by this awards
program.

For
additional details on the project and how it was developed, view the original press release.

GDBS
is part of UH’s Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture. Past community
projects include a solar shade tree for McReynolds Middle School and an
amphitheater classroom for T.H. Rogers School. To learn more about GDBS, visit http://www.uh.edu/gdbs/.

The
Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees
in a variety of disciplines including architecture, space architecture,
interior architecture and industrial design. Faculty members include esteemed professionals
in the architectural community, as well as award-winning academic veterans.
Facilities include studio spaces, the new Materials Research Collaborative,
computer labs and the Burdette Keeland Jr. Design Exploration Center. To learn
more about the college, visit http://www.arch.uh.edu/.